Papal conclave participants to take oath Friday

Vatican City, Apr 13, 2005 / 12:00 am (CNA).- As cardinals from around the world prepare to elect a new pope, the Vatican announced today that all those who will be part of Monday’s conclave will be called to take their oath on Friday, April 15th.

The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff said that all those involved in the forthcoming conclave - both clergy and laity, as approved by the cardinal camerlengo and by the three cardinal assistants, and in keeping with the norms of paragraph 48 of the Apostolic Constitution 'Universi Domini gregis' - will be obligated to swear prescribed oath on Friday.

Those who will be present, in accordance with paragraph 46 of Universi Dominici gregis, will be:

- The Secretary of the College of Cardinals.

- The master of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff.

- The masters of pontifical ceremonies.

- The religious who supervise the pontifical sacristy.

- The ecclesiastic chosen by the cardinal dean to help him in his duties.

- The religious charged with hearing confessions in the various languages.

- Personnel responsible for transporting the cardinal electors from the 'Domus Sanctae Marthae' to the Apostolic Palace.

- Elevator attendants at the Apostolic Palace.

- Priests admitted as assistants to some of the Cardinals.

The participants will first be instructed as to the meaning of the oath, and will have to pronounce and personally sign the prescribed formula before Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo, camerlengo of Holy Roman Church.

According to the Vatican, the signing must also take place in the presence of two masters of pontifical ceremonies (Universi Dominici gregis, paras. 48).